Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-04-05
Andrew Jackson,s DueI.

AuOTeW JackSODS DUcl.
1t was in the evening, while we were sit
ting over the fire, that Gen. Harding said to
me, "The Northern papers have frequently
asserted that Andrew Jackson never ex-
pressed any regret about the duel in which
he killed Charles Dickinson. This is mis-
take, and you should correct it,
took out a note book and made full mem
oranda of what my friend proceeded to say.
Gen. Harding's account of the cause of the
duel differed somewhat from the accepted
story; but that is not important, as he did
not pretend personally to know anything of
its origin. The valuable portion of his &C.
count is that which relates to his conversa-
ton with Gen Jackson himself. He said,
however, that the duel grew out of a quar-
rel on the race track between Jackson and
Joseph Erwin, Dickinson's fathern law
Dickinson took up the quarrel and the duel
followed. The other account of the affair
narrates that in 1906 Jackson became in.
volved in n quarrel at the race track with
Mr.. Swami, and he found Dickin-
sons name Extensively introduced into the
letters written by Swami. Dickinson had
previously made disparsging remarks about
/ Mrs Jackson, and the General had remon
strated with Mr.. Erwin about Dickinson 8
speeches, saying that be wished no quarrel
with the latter, who was used by Jackson S
enemies in Nashville. Swann's letters, how
ever, renewed the feeling between Gen
Jackson and Dickinson, and resulted in the
fatal duel
To return to Gen. Hardipg's story, which
give verbatim:
"In conversation with Gen. Jackson one
day l said {: General. is brave man ever
frightened p
az don't know that l am ccmpeiep 10
answer that question: said he.
II replied, The world accords you as
much bravery as is possessed by any man.
'''lf that be so, SIR said the General, 4
would say have been as badly frightened es
gentleman ought ever TO be-
II said, i presume that was iii some OF
your Indian fights?
mo, said he, it was when l went on
the field with Dickinson. l knew him to be
COOL brave, determined man, and the best
shot Lever saw, and never expected to
leave the field alive. l owe my live to the
fashion Of the Gay-the full. breasted
coat. This and the peculiar con-
formation OF my much suuken chest
were all that saved me. Dickinson's bullet
struck what appeared to be the centre Of
ny body under the right arm, and the ball
grazsd my broastbone. [ had gone upon
the field determined not to fire ut D:ckin-
son, but TO discharge my pistol in the air,
having no ground of quarrel with him, and
not wishing to hurt hair Of his head. My
quarrel was with his father-n-law, Erwin !;
but when felt myself shot, under the i'm.
preston that | had received mortal
wound, and snarting under this belief apd
the physical pain, / fired the fatal shot,
and no act of my life have ever regretted
so much.
Under the conditions of the meeting we
had right to reserve the fire, because l
knew that Dickinson could shoot so much
more quickly than | could. 1t has beer as
serted in tho public prints, said Old Hicko-
nv, that advanced to Dickinson to deliver
my shot and that he gave back, both oil which
statements are false, sir. stood In my
place when I fred and Dickinson remained
in his, receiving my shot like cool, brave
man as he was.
Gen. Harding said that at this same in.
terview, which was the last he ever had With
Gen. Jackson, the latter said to him:
1.-The world is greatly mistaken about
my having an uugovernabe temper. l
never gave an exhibition of temper without
my judgment approved it. L sometimes
fund it necessary even to prevent the she'd
ding of blood
1t was in this connection that Gen. Hard
ing recalled the first time he ever saw Gen.
Jackson. 1T was at the Clover Bottom
race cour5e. A fight had taken place, and
the excitement was general and high. For
ty or fifty men stood with pistols drawn,
and there was imminent danger to many
lives, when," said Gen. Harding, "a tall,
slender man on a big bay horse rode quick
ly up, looking like the devil himself, and
cried out. BY the Eternal l command the
peace. 1t was Andrew Jackson, and he
was obeyed. was only twelve years old
when this happened, but shall never lose
the impression the scene made upon me
Jackson had more command over men than
apy other man ever saw, and he frequent
IL had to exercise it, He was the most ele
CANT and colrrtly gentleman | ever knew
He preferred to avoid difficulty if possible
and consistent with his dignity, but he had
great contempt for the man who, being
once involved in fight, would not stand
up in full view and get shot at. | remem
Der a fight in which he and the Benson
brothers we're engaged. One of the latter
got under the stairway to keep from getting
shot, and Gen. Jackson considered him
contemplate man ever afterward. South
ern Birouac.